Bolster



P 1930- -r. H. SYMINGTON ET AL BOLSTER Filed June 1, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet l p 1930. I 1'. H. sYMINGTQNErAL BOLS'IER Filed June 1, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 p 1930. T. H. SYMINGTON BOLSTER Filed June 1, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Sept. 16, 1930 @FFICE THOMAS H. .SYMIITGTON AND PERCY B. BREATHING, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, AS-

.SIGNQRS, BY MTLSIHE ASS EIIJIENTS, 'lO SYMTElG-TON ANDIEON, INCL, OF BALTI- .MOR-E, TEABYLAND, COR-PGRATZQN OF MARYLAND Application filed June 1, 1926.

The invention relates to body bolsters and side bearing constructions for use in railroad car trucks.

The principal object of the invention, gen- 1'5 erally stated, is to provide a novel structure embodying a peculiarly arranged mounting for side bearing rollers which are interposed between the truck bolster and body bolster forthe purpose of permitting swivelling are tion of the bolsters with respect to each other asmust occur in car travel.

An important object of the inventionis to provide a side bearing construction and mounting which does not in any way necessitate the making of alterations in the structure of the truck bolster, means being pro vided in the body bolster for accommodating bearing members coacting with the side bearing rollers.

Another object of the invention is to provide yieldable means in the body bolster coacting with the bearing member therein for maintaining constant contact between the bearingmembers and the side bearing roll ers and between the sidebearing rollers and the bearing elements on the truck bolster cooperating therewith.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a structure of this character embodying pocket .members mounted within the body bolster and containing beari. members urged downwardly by a bank or banks of leaf or plate springs which are normally under little, if any, compression but which act to oppose yieldable resistance to relative rocking movement of the truck and body bolsters, thereby tending to prevent, or at least reduce, car roll or side sway.

Another object of the invention is to provide a side bearing structure between the end portions of the truck and body bolsters embodying cushioning means which will act to take up clearance which might otherwise exist between the parts, all the bearing surfaces being constantly in contact so to prevent the delivery oi any blows to the mechanism when any relative rocking movement of thetruck and body bolsters occurs. all .the parts being consequently relieved of Serial No. 113,082.

shocks, jars and strains and their-length :of life being therefore increased.

Still another object of the invention istlic provision of an arrangement and construe tion of this character which'may be built into already existing equipment without necessitating any changeswhatsoever'in the truck bolster and very little change inth-e body bolster.

An additional object of ltheinventioniis to provide a structure of this character which will be comparativelysimple 'and.in expensive to manufacture audiinstalhpositive in action, efiicient and durable intervice, and a general improvement in the Fart.

lViththc above andother objects and advantages in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more :fully described and claimed,and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view showing-one end nt truck and body bolsters with the invention in applied position, the truck bolster being in elevation and the body bolster'and side bearing structure being in.lo1igitudinal vertical section,

Figure 2 is a vertical cross'sect-ional view taken on the line 22 ofrFigure l andloolring in the direction ofthearrows,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical sec tional view quite similar to Figure 1 'but.il-

lustrating a slightly modified arrangement of plate or leaf springs,

Figure 4: is a view similar to Figure 1 but illustrating a modification in which the spring cushioning means is eliminated, and

Figure 5 is a vertical cross sectional View taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring more particularly-to the'drawings, and especially Figures landQ, the numeral 1 designates a truck bolster which may be of any ordinary or preferredtype such as the standard ones now in common use. This bolster is shown as having a center bearing 2 and it is of course provided at each end with an extension 3, these extensions being adapted to be located within the window openings in the-truck side frames-land to=be ner and'which extends transversely of the bolster. The bearing member 4 1s prefer ably provided or formed with an inclined bearing surface 5 at theends of which may; 'be'provided upstanding teeth or projections 6.

The numeral 7 designates the'body bolster which is, in most respects, of the ordinary construction or which may be of some special construction if desired. This bolster may conveniently include channel sides 8 connected by the usual top plate '9 and a bottom plate 10, both being secured to the center sills 11 forming part of the car underframe. In the carrying out of the presentinvention the bottom plate'lO may be considered as pro vided with an opening 12 or it may be described as formed of spacedsections to define the opening 12. f f V I I Mounted withinthe body bolster 7 at the openings 12 therein are pocket members 13 preferably providedat their lower ends with outstanding flanges 14L underlying the bottom platelO andsuitably, secured thereto and to the outwardly extending lower edgesof the channel sides'S. The walls of the pocket members most remote from the, vertical axis of the bolster are formed or otherwise pro vided with depending portions'15 for a purpose to be described, reinforcingwebs 16 being preferably provided for eifectingstiifening thereof. These pocket members form part of side bearingstructures tobe described, though it should be understood that the body bolster is provided with the usual or any other suitable center plate 17 received within tions or as the result of rocking or swaying the center bearing 2 011 the truck bolster.

In this formof the invention the under neath side of the top portion of the member 13 is shown'as concaved 'or inclined to define supporting ledges 18v engaged by the ends of the uppermost one ofa bank or banks of plate orleaf springs 19 which are located within the pocket and which engage upon the convex upper surface 20 of a bearing member 21 mounted for vertical sl1d1ng movement within the pocket in accordance with flexin g relative swivelling movement of the truck and ofthe springs 19 under varying load conditendency of the car. 7 The lower surface 22 of the member 21 is preferably inclined, the inclination beingopposite to but of the same pitch as that of the bearing surface 5' of the member 14;. It is also preferable that the member 21 be provided at the ends of the surface-22 with depending projections or teeth 23. i i i Located between the bearing membersQl 'as that first described.

cesses' 25 in the roller.

and 1 at both'ends of the bolsters are rollers 24 preferably tapered, the pitch being such that. the rollers will conformingly engage against the inclined bearing surfaces 22 and 5. Actually, the rollers may be of hollow formation, if preferred, and the ends thereof are represented as recessed at 25 for thereception of the teeth or projections 6 and 23 so that when relative swivelling' movement of-the truck and body bolsters occurs'and they subsequently return to normal the rollers will be restored to central or normal as will be readily apparent.

I11 the form of; the invention above de scribed, the plate or leaf springs may be said to extend transversely with respect to the bolsters, the ledges 18being at or toward the opposite sides of the body bolster. In Figure 3 there is illustrated a slight modification in which the pocket'member'26 corresponding to the pocket memberl3 has the undersurface of its top portion provided with ledges 27 located at the outer and inner portions posit on,

of the pocket member relatively to the vertical axis of the bolster. The bank or'banks of spr ngs 28 in tlllS instance may be con-.

sidered as'extending longitudinally of the body bolster. The member 29 corresponding to the member 21 engaging beneath the springs and upon the roller has its. convex upper surface 80 arranged longitudinally of r the body bolster. In every other respect this form of the invention is identically the same Under somecircums'tances, as for instance ion if it isdesired, to cut down the cost of the equipment, the cushioning means such as the leaf or plate springs above described may be omitted, and in Figures l and 5 there is illustrated a-modification or variation in which the pocket member 31 is formed or otherwise provided" with a wall element .32; braced by I any desired arrangementof reinforcing webs 33, this wall element having an inclined lower bearing surface gcorresponding to the above described inclined bearing surface 22 for en gagement with the roller. In this instance the Wall member 82 may be provided with projections or lugs 35 received within the re- It should of course be understood that While only one end of the bolsters is disclosed in'every instance, the

structure is identically the same at both ends. I

In the operation, it will be seen that when body bolsters occurs, the rollers will rock or roll transversely with respect to the bolsters.

However, owing to the provision of the projections, lugs or teeth engaging the recesses in the rollers the rollers willalways return to their normal or central positions" when the Any longitudinal displacement is prevented inia .similanmanner especially .as the rollers extend up into the ;pocket members mounted within ,the body bolster. .Inasmuch as the rollers are received within the pocket members and actually extend upwardly beyond the bottom .of the..body bolster it is possible to employ rollers :of greater diameter than would be the case ifithey were located entirelybelow thebody bolster. The provision ofrollers of such .large diameter is of considerable advantage as friction, when relative swivelling movement of the bolsters occurs, -will be reduced. In'revery instance, the outward end thrust of the rollers is taken bythe dependingextensions at the lower ends ofthe-outermost walls of the pocket 'memhers.

. in this particular device it is intendedthat theload be sustained by the center bearing, theside bearingsaoting to give stability to the car. In that form of the invention wherein use -.is made of the banks or plates of leaf springs or other cushioning means embodied in the side fbearingstructures, there is obviously a yieldable resistance to any relative rocking movement of the bolsters. There will be no clearance between the rollers and the -.bearingsurfaces engaged thereby, all of the ,parts being maintained in positive contact Manama. :It is of'course trueithat if desired the platezor leaf springs may take the initial fload, in whiclrevent they would be maintainedin flexed. condition, the degree of flexure. aryingin aecordancewith variations in the ;.pressure resulting from tendency of the-canto roll or sway. 'As'thereis no clearance betweemthe .bearingfelements and as the cushioning Imeans is provided there will be a .tota-l'absen'ce of hammer-like blows which .oeourr-in ordinary .types of bearing devices. Eyeliminating: suchblowsor impacts shocks and arsand consequent deterioration. of the entire truck structure and accessories will be avoided, the life ofxthe "p rts being consequently prolonged. Fromthe foregoing de scription and a study of the drawings it is thoughtjtlnit the construction, operation and advantages 'Wl1l bf3 readily apparent to one skilled in the art without further explanartlon.

A While we have shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that the disclosure is merely an exemplification of the principles involved ras we reserve the right to make such changes and modifications as will widen the field of utility and increase the adaptability of the invention provided such variations constitute no departure from the spirit of the in- --vention or the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

Having thus described the invention, we claim:

1. The combination of a truck bolster cartrying a bearing member, a body bolster having a pocketnear each end, a bearing surface within the pocket, and a roller located betweensaid bearing member and bearing surface and extendingupwardly into the pocket. the outer wall of each pocket being prolonged downwardly below the bottom of the body aolster to provide a thrust bearing surface for the outer end of the roller.

2. The combination of a truck bolster carrying a bearing member on its top, a body bolster having a pocket near each end, a bearing element within the pocket, and a roller located between said bearing member and bearing element and extending upwardly into the pocket, the surfaces of said bearing member and bearing element being oppositely inclined and the roller being tapered.

3. The combination of a truck bolster havi a bearin member on its top at each end, a ody bolster, awpocket member mounted within each end portion of the body bolster and secured to the bottom thereof, the pocket member being provided with a bearing sur face at an intermediate point, and a roller engaging upon said bearing member and beneath said bearing surface.

4-. Thecombinationofa truck bolster having a bearing member on its top at each end, a body bolster, a pocket member mounted within each end portion of the body bolster and secured to the bottom thereof, the pocket member being provided with a bearing wall spaced downwardlyfromitstop, and a roller engaging upon said bearing member and beneath said bearing wall, the roller being of greater diameter than the space between the bolsters.

:5. The combination of a truck bolster, a bearingmember mounted upon thetop of each end portion thereof, a body bolster, a pocket member mounted within each end portion of the body bolster, a bearing men1- ber vertically slidably mounted within each poclret member, cushioning means within the pocket above the bearing member therein and yieldablyengaging the same, and a roller lo cated between and engaging both bearing members.

,6. The combination of a truck bolster, a bearing member mounted upon the top of each end portion-thereof, a body bolster, a pocket member mounted within each end portion ofthe body bolster, a bearing member vertically slidably mounted within each pocket member, cushioning means within the pocket .above the bearing member therein and yieldably engaging the same, and a roller located between and engaging both bcaringmembers, both bearing members being provided cent-rally of each end with a vertical projection, andthe opposite end portions of each roller being recessed for the reception of said projections.

'7. Theicombination .of a truck b'olsterhavgitudinal displacement. 1

'8.- Thecombination of a-truckbolster pro vided with bearing members on its top'near its ends, a center bearing onthe bolster, a body bolster having a center plate engaged within said center bearing, pocket members within the body bolster near the ends thereof, bearing members slidably mounted within the pocket members, banks of plate springs within the pocket members engaging the slidable bearing members,the undersurfac'es; of the topsZof the pocket members being provided with ledges at opposite sides, the

pocket members,-the bottom edge of the member mounted within the opening and eX-* uppermost ones'of the springs having their I ends engaglngsald ledges, said slidable bearing members having convex upper surfaces, and rollers mounted between said first named bearing members and members} v V I 9. f The combination of a truck bolster providedwith bearing members uponits upper surface, a centering bearing on said bolster, a I

body bolster having. a centering plate concentric with said centering plate of the truck bolster; pocket members within'the body bolster, roller bearing means extending into said pocket member being formed with outstanding flanges attached to the body bolster bottom cover plate. r

10. The combination of truck bolster provided with bearing membersupon its upper surface, a centering bearingon saldbolster,

. a coacting centering bearing upon a body bol-' ster saidbody bolster containing pocket members, within which are vertically and rotatably movable rollers engaging upper and lower wear/and centering plates, the former within the pocketmemberand the latter upon the upper surface of the truck bolster, the pocket wear plate engaging resilient spring means, said means sustaining a certain car weight without engagement of the flat surfaces of the aforementloned centering bearings of the truck andbody bolsters.

11. In combination, a truck bolster provided at its end portionswithbearing members, a body bolster having top and bottom plates, the bottom plate having an opening above each of said bearing members, a pocket tending the full height of the body bolster with its upper end abutting against the underside of the top plate thereof, said pocket said "'slidable' bearing member having outstanding flanges secured to the underside of the bottom plate, a transverse element intermediate the, top and bot tom of the pocket providing a bearing surface, and a roller mounted between saidbear'-.

ing member and bearing surface. I

12. IILCOIIlblDfitlOIl, a truck bolster provided at its endportions with bearlng mem bers, a body bolster having top and bottom plates, the bottom plate having an opening above-each of said bearing members, 'apo'cket member mounted within the opening and ex tending the full height of the'body bolster withits upper end abutting against the underside ofthe top'plate thereof, said pocket member having outstanding flanges secured to the underside of the bottom plate, a transverse element intermediate the top and bottom of the pocket provldlng abearing surface, a roller mounted between said bearing member and bearing surface, said pocket member having its side Walls beneath said transverse wall portion formed with pro ec-,

having recesses conformingly receiving said pro ect1ons. c V j V 13. In 'COIIlblIltlOIl, a truck bolster pro- 'tions extending downwardly, and saidroller vided atits end portions with bearing'mem bers, a body bolster having top and bottom plates,- the bottom plate having a'nlopening above each of said bearing members, a pocket member mounted within the opening and extending the full height of the body bolster with its upper end butting'against the underside of the top plate thereof, said pocket member havingoutstanding flanges secured to the underside of the bottom plate, a transverse element intermediate the top and bottom of the pocket providing a bearing surface,

and aroller mounted between said bearing member and bearing surface," said pocket member being formed with transverse and longitudinal webs'merging into the top thereof and into said transverse wall portion.

In testimony whereof' we aflix' our signatures.

PERCY n; DRENNING, 1

"-THOMAS svMnve'ron. V 

